Insects and Carpet

It is common to find an occasional insect on carpet – ants or flying insects commonly found in the home. What is uncommon is to find carpet damage that is a result of insects.

Before World War II, there was a large amount of insect damage to carpet produced by beetles and moths. At that time, wool fibers, especially in soiled carpet, were a source of food. The only way to protect a wool carpet was to keep it clean and to apply a topical treatment that would kill the insect. The treatments were not permanent. Cleaning removed the treatment and the carpet had to be retreated.

After World War II, permanent treatments were developed and used for wool carpet. Spills and cleaning will not remove the treatment, and no retreatment is necessary after the carpet is cleaned.

Man-made or "synthetic" fibers, such as nylon, polyester, and olefin, have no food value for insects. Foods, beverages, and other soils spilled on the carpet and not removed, attract insects, attack the food. Prevention is easy. Remove spills and foods quickly, and have the carpet cleaned on a regular basis.

Beetles and Moths
Even though wool fibers in carpet are permanently treated and synthetic fibers have no food benefit, beetles and moths may still be found in the home and even on the carpet. These insects will eat the keratin in wool and other items containing hair, mohair, feathers, furs, other organic materials, and many food items.

Although the adult clothes moth is only about ½ inch in length, it grows significantly while feeding on wool. Since a female moth can lay 90 or more eggs at a time, wool pile can be devastated if most of the eggs hatch. A simple, preventative measure is to keep wool rugs clean. Insects also prefer darkness, so rugs that are in well-lit areas are at much less risk than rugs in storage. Rugs kept in storage for a long time, should be cleaned and inspected regularly.

Beetles vary in size and coloration and are similar in shape to a lady bug. Some attack furniture padding, fabric, hair, woolens, and feathers. The common carpet beetle can be distinguished easily by the continuous series of bright brick red scales down the center of the back (the inner margins of the two wing covers). The larvae are golden to dark brown and elongated. A beetle can lay up to 100 or more white eggs that hatch in eight to fifteen days. After hatching, the larvae feed for sixty days to a year in dark spaces, such as under furniture or baseboards.

The best way to combat carpet beetles is to prevent them from becoming established in the home. The best weapon is the vacuum cleaner – used often enough to prevent the accumulation of hair, lint, and food stuffs. Remember to clean vents and furniture. Dry clean woolen clothes, and store them in plastic bags in the deep freeze, if possible.

Neither carpet beetles nor moths will be found on carpet that is shipped from the carpet manufacturer. The high temperatures reached in manufacturing kill any possible insects and eggs that might be harbored in fibers or other carpet materials.

Fleas
Pet owners may also experience fleas on their carpet. Fleas spread by feeding on another animal. Fleas will not damage the carpet and will die there, unless they are able to find another animal to sustain them. More than one treatment may be needed to kill all of the fleas. Frequent vacuuming aids in control of flea populations on carpet. (Be sure to change the filtration bag often.)

Silverfish, Crickets, and Termites
Insects that eat starch, such as silverfish, could be found on the back of pre-World War II carpet because of the starch sizing then used to give the carpet more stability. Starch sizing is no longer being used, and there should be no other food value for silverfish, unless something of similar composition to starch is spilled on the carpet. Cricket and termite damage has been observed on early carpet when jute, rayon, and cotton were used in the carpet backings. Damage by crickets and termites has not been reported for many years because of the predominant use of synthetic fibers in the back of today’s carpet.

Summary:
Insects that may be present are looking for a food source. Carpet made with synthetic fibers will not sustain insect life. When insects are found on carpet, either the carpet is a pathway, or they are eating something spilled or tracked on the carpet. The best solution is to keep carpet and rugs clean to eliminate the insects’ food source.

If insects are found in the home, a professional pest control exterminator should be utilized to identify and appropriately treat the affected areas. More than one treatment may be necessary, as the unhatched eggs and larvae may not be killed by the initial application. Make certain that the chemicals used in the treatment will not discolor or damage the carpet, and chemicals should be recommended by the manufacturer as safe for indoor use.